Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius – 25 Years!
EST. 1997
The purpose of the “International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius” was to incite artists to create conceptual works which correspond to the offered theme. I wanted to provoke artists to create not only what they could and what they invented in their realm. While rejecting the “beautiful” book conception as being snobbish and commercial, I wanted them to conceptually reflect on the given theme. Not to confine themselves only to their experiences and moods, that was my aspiration.
During 25 years the “International Artist‘s Book Triennials Vilnius” has taken place nine times with a total selection of 911 artists from 68 countries:
838 artists from 65 countries have been selected artists for the Triennials: Argentina 20, Australia 29, Austria 8, Bahrain 1, Bangladesh 1, Belarus 1, Belgium 8, Brazil 37, Bulgaria 13, Canada 13, Chile 4, China 3, Cyprus 1, Cuba 2, Czech Republic 6, Denmark 34, Egypt 3, Estonia 39, Ethiopia 1, Finland 14, France 8, Germany 77, Greece 3, Hong Kong 1, Hungary 25, Iceland 9, Iran 1, Iraq 1, Ireland 6, Italy 41, Yugoslavia 4, Japan 33, Jordan 3, Korea (South) 15, Latvia 3, Lithuania 127, Morocco 1, Mexico 5, Netherlands 13, New Zealand 1, Northern Ireland 1, Norway 4, Pakistan 2, Peru 1, Philippines 1, Poland 6, Portugal 7, Romania 3, Russia 12, Saudi Arabia 1, Scotland 2, Serbia 4, Singapore 2, Slovak Republic 2, Slovenia 3, South Africa 1, Spain 6, Sweden 25, Switzerland 15, Taiwan 1, Turkey 1, U.K. 25, Ukraine 2, Uruguay 1, U.S.A. 113.
1778 artists from 99 countries have submitted more than 3000 artist’s books:
1610 artists from 93 countries have submitted artist’s books for the Triennials: Argentina 13,Australia 40, Austria 29, Bahrain 1, Bangladesh 1, Belarus 2, Belgium 12, Brazil 76, Bulgaria 19, Canada 22, Chile 8, China 3, Cyprus 3, Croatia 8, Cuba 2, Czech Republic 14, Denmark 61, Egypt 4, Estonia 70, Ethiopia 2, Finland 34, France 31, Germany 131, Greece 9, Hong Kong 5, Hungary 43, Iceland 9, India 1, Indonesia 4, Iran 2, Iraq 1, Ireland 9, Israel 2, Italy 112, Yugoslavia 10, Japan 46, Jordan 3, Kazakhstan 3, Korea (South) 22, Latvia 6, Lithuania 193, Macedonia 3, Malaysia 1, Malta 1, Morocco 2, Mexico 12, Montenegro 1, Netherlands 34, New Zealand 2, Northern Ireland 1, Norway 12, Pakistan 2, Peru 1, Philippines 1, Poland 20, Portugal 16, Romania 16, Russia 26, Saudi Arabia 1, Scotland 7, Serbia 8, Singapore 6, Slovak Republic 3, Slovenia 7, South Africa 1, Spain 30, Sweden 49, Switzerland 30, Taiwan 1, Thailand 1, Turkey 11, U.K. 51, Ukraine 3, Uruguay 3, U.S.A. 180, Vietnam 1.
1st International Artist‘s Book Triennial Vilnius 1997
Theme: “Diary: Eight Days”
Time and Location:
23 September – 14 November 1997, Gallery “Kaire Desine”, Vilnius, Lithuania.
The jury selected 62 artists from 13 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Zibuntas Miksys, France
Roberta Vaigeltaite, Lithuania
Ausra Andziulyte, Lithuania
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2nd International Artist‘s Book Triennial Vilnius 2000
Theme: “Apocalypse”
Time and Location:
2–28 November 2000, Gallery “Arka”, Vilnius, Lithuania;
10 January – 3 February 2001, Gallery 5020, Salzburg, Austria.
The jury selected 140 artists from 29 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Along with the main exposition of the Triennial, a satellite Exhibition of the Calligraphic Artist’s Book was arranged.
Virag Flora, Hungary
Pilar Roca, Spain
Alla Georgieva, Bulgaria
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3rd International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2003
Theme: “23 Sins”
Time and Location:
15 May – 15 June 2003, Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius, Lithuania;
16 May 2003, Conference in the Contemporary Art Centre, Vilnius;
5–10 May 2004, Frankfurt Art Fair, Germany;
19 September – 10 October 2004, Gallery “Gravicel”, Lille, France;
15 August – 10 September 2004, Thomas Manas House, Nida, Lithuania.
262 artists from 44 countries have send over 1000 artist’s books.
The jury selected 119 artists from 37 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Hanne Matthiesen, Denmark
Claire Jeanine Satin, USA
Brody Neuenschwander, Belgium
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4th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2006
Theme: “Rabbit and House”
Time and Location:
5–25 December 2006, Gallery “Arka”, Vilnius, Lithuania;
22–25 March, 2007, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany;
1–6 June 2007, Seoul International Book Arts Fair, South Korea.
201 artists from 36 countries sent their books.
The jury selected 132 artists from 29 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Olof Kangas, Finland
Colleen Conrado, USA
Janis Nedela, Australia
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5th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2009
Theme: “Text”
Time and Location:
12–15 March 2009, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany;
30 April – 16 May 2009, Gallery “Arka”, Vilnius, Lithuania;
12 September – 13 December 2009, Art Centre Silkeborg Bad, Denmark;
29 May – 13 September 2010, Gallery “Hübner Bokform”, Sweden;
8–29 October 2010, “Scuola Internazionale di Grafica”, Venice, Italy.
324 artists from 56 countries have send over 1000 artist’s books.
The jury selected 134 artists from 34 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Anna Snaedis Sigmarsdottir, Iceland
Sato Yanai, Japan
Christopher Arnold, USA
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6th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2012
Theme: “Love”
Time and Location:
3 February – 2 March 2012, “Scuola Internazionale di Grafica”, Venice, Italy;
15–18 March 2012, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany;
12–28 April 2012, Gallery “Titanikas”, Vilnius, Lithuania;
27 September – 4 November 2012, Kloster Bentlage, Rheine, Germany;
The international jury selected 94 artists from 34 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Ema Shin, Australia
Nancy Hart, USA
Candace Hicks, USA
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7th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2015
Theme: “Error” {Mistake}
The international jury selected 115 artists from 31 countries for the Triennial.
The original hand bound Catalogue of the Triennial was published.
Time and Location:
2015 March 12–15, Leipzig Book Fair, Germany;
2015 September 5–19, “Museo Leone”, Vercelli, Italy;
2015 October 22 – November 21, Gallery “Titanikas”, Vilnius, Lithuania;
2016 January 16-17, “11. Norddeutsche Handpressenmesse BuchDruckKunst”, Museum der Arbeit, Hamburg, Germany;
2016 February 25–28, LITEXPO, Vilnius, Lithuania.
2016 July 30 – August 27, “The Cole Art Center”, Nacogdoches, TX 75961, U.S.A. – Cancelled;
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8th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2018
Theme: “Memento Mori“
2018 March 15–18, “Leipzig Book Fair“, Germany;
2018 May 18–20, Palazzo Ducale “Data”, Urbino, Italy. The 8th Artist’s Book Triennial was part of the Festival “Urbino e le Citta del Libro” (“Urbino – the Town of Book”);
2018 July 19 – September 23, “The Martynas Mazvydas National Library of Lithuania“, Vilnius, Lithuania;
2019 February 23 – March 10, “Museo Leone”, Vercelli, Italy;
2019 March 15 – April 13, Gallery SG, “Scuola Internazionale di Grafica“, Venice, Italy;
2019 June 14 – July 8, The Plunge Municipal Clock Tower Library, Lithuania;
2019 August 23 – September 29, “Evanston Art Center“, Evanston, IL, USA;
2019 November 1 – December 4, Reed Library of the State University of New York at Fredonia, USA.
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9th International Artist’s Book Triennial Vilnius 2021
Theme: “Absence”
Time: 2021
Location: Nowhere
Prof. Kestutis Vasiliunas
Curator of the Triennials
© Circle “Bokartas”, Kestutis Vasiliunas
